Last Updated: April 10, 2024
The beginning of the new pond season is the perfect time to evaluate and tweak your pond maintenance practices and take inventory of leftover pond care products from last year. Spring pond start-up begins once the ice thaws from your pond, so there is no better time to start planning for the upcoming season.
Reflect On Past Seasons
Before you buy new pond maintenance products, recall your pond issues from last season. Were you fighting recurring algae blooms? Did you dread stepping into the pond for a swim due to muck? Knowing which problems are a priority to address will help keep your spring start-up goals focused.
Make a Spring Start-Up Plan
If you've been putting off installing an Aeration System, spring is the time to get it started. Installing an aeration system in your pond will infuse the water column with oxygen and circulate the water. Aeration systems help reduce pond muck formation and weed growth while keeping your fish safe and comfortable.
Next, treat your pond with Algae Defense as needed. Use this algae-destroyer on troublesome floating filamentous algae, bottom-growing Chara, and planktonic algae when it's green and growing. Apply Algae Defense when the water temperature in your pond or lake is above 60°F. Don't use Algae Defense if you keep koi or trout in your lake.
After treating your pond with Algae Defense, don't forget to remove the dead algae and debris with a Pond Rake. This keeps dead algae from becoming additional muck at the bottom of your pond.
Finally, treat your pond with beneficial bacteria to keep your pond water clear and remove accumulated pond muck.
ClearPAC Plus Beneficial Bacteria & Treatment System
Eliminate the guesswork when choosing the appropriate water treatments by using the most effective pond care products in one package, Airmax ClearPAC Plus ClearPAC Plus includes four easy pond products that address the root of the most common pond problems: excess nutrients and sunlight.
Learn when and how to best use these easy pond care products:
- Pond Dye: As soon as the ice melts on your pond or lake, add Nature's Blue Pond Dye. The dye is not temperature-sensitive, so it can be used even when water temps are too cold for beneficial bacteria products. Pond Dye does more than color your water and add to your landscape's aesthetic; it also shades it from sunlight, which can kick-start algae blooms as the water warms.
- EcoBoost PRx: This bacteria booster and phosphate binder has no temperature restrictions, so it can be used year-round to bind excessive nutrients that find their way into the water. You can use EcoBoost PRx throughout the spring to give you a head start on pond season.
- PondClear and MuckAway: When water temperatures rise to a consistent 50°F, you can start using the beneficial bacteria found in PondClear and MuckAway to break down nutrients suspended in your water column and muck on the bottom of your pond. These products can be used at the same time as your Pond Dye and EcoBoost PRx. PondClear water-soluble packets work from the top down, digesting suspended debris in the water column. MuckAway bacteria pellets sink to the pond bottom and devour up to two inches of muck each month.
Spring Start-Up Advice for Ponds and More
Getting ahead of spring start-up maintenance helps keep your pond looking its best all season with minimal effort. Every pond is unique, so contact us for personalized advice at 866-766-3435.
Explore these related articles to learn more spring start-up tips for all your aquascapes:
Spring Start-Up for Water Gardens
Benefits of Airmax EcoBoost PRx
What is the Airmax Ecosystem
Warm Winter Day Pond Care
Removing Dead Vegetation